“Youshin!! See you tomorrow!!”
Without waiting for his reply, I ended the call.
Ah, geez! I wanted to talk a little longer, but it’s all Mom’s fault!! There’s no way I could let Youshin join a love talk with my parents—that would be way too embarrassing, I’d literally die…
So at least… I sent him a message.
I thanked him for today and invited him on another date next week.
Today’s date had been his invitation, but this time I subtly implied that I’d be the one inviting him. I want to plan the next date myself.
His reply said “See you tomorrow,” along with a simple goodnight. Just that alone made my face soften.
I really wanted to say goodnight directly over the phone…
I shot a resentful glance at the two people behind me.
How did things even end up like this?
I couldn’t help but think that.
Right now, standing before me were two powerful opponents.
My mother, Barato Tomoko… and my little sister, Barato Saya…
Saya had been hiding in her room when Youshin was here, but the moment he left and Mom started talking about romance, she came out with perfect timing.
I really wish she had just stayed in her room…
As expected, Mom pulled her into the conversation.
And Saya, clearly curious, joined in enthusiastically… seriously…
And so, our family’s girls’ night began.
Since it was already late and we didn’t want to gain weight… it was just tea, no snacks.
And up until just now, the two of them had been interrogating me about everything since I started dating Youshin.
It was basically an investigation.
They asked about everything.
Well… I guess… I did kind of enjoy bragging about Youshin a little…
Like how he saved me… how we went to buy a lunchbox together… how he protected me from that senpai… I ended up talking about all the things I liked about him.
If anything, the only complaint I have… is that he still calls me “Nanami-san.”
I know it’s probably a high hurdle for someone like Youshin… but I want him to call me just “Nanami.”
Ah… maybe a nickname would be nice too? But… that might feel a bit too much like a lovey-dovey couple…
Anyway… getting back on track…
I talked about everything I liked about him.
In other words… that’s all I talked about.
I didn’t talk about the most important thing.
There’s no way I could.
The fact that I confessed to him as part of a punishment game…
That our relationship started because of that…
I couldn’t tell my family.
For some reason, Mom didn’t ask about that either.
Instead, she kept asking what I liked about him, what made me think he was cool, and what I wanted for the future…
It was a little embarrassing… but I ended up talking honestly about everything I loved about Youshin.
And every time I did, Saya would squeal and make a fuss.
Even though she said he wasn’t anything special before…
Then she even said, “I want a boyfriend like that too,” so I warned her not to try taking Youshin from me…
But after a blank look, she just stared at me in exasperation.
“...Sis, just how much do you like Youshin-san? I just said I want a kind boyfriend like that—I never said I wanted to date him.”
…I guess this is what they mean by exposing yourself without realizing it.
I should’ve known that if I thought about it for a second… ugh, this is too embarrassing—end of topic!!
“I’m going to take a bath and go to bed!!”
Right as I stood up, Dad came home.
Mom went to the entrance to greet him.
After seeing her off, I went to take a bath as I said I would.
I’ll message Hatsumi and Ayumu later about how the date went. It was a huge success.
Mom went to greet Dad, and Saya, satisfied after teasing me, waved lazily at me as I headed to the bath.
Sighing, I was about to head off when… Mom peeked her head out and said something strange.
“Nanami… I’ll come to your room later. Let’s talk, just the two of us.”
“Ah… okay…”
Just the two of us…
Whenever any of us—Dad, Saya, or I—have worries, we usually talk to Mom alone like this.
But… it was rare for Mom to be the one to initiate it.
After my bath, I changed into pajamas… messaged Hatsumi and Ayumu about how successful the date was, and also thanked and apologized to Hatsumi since our cover story turned out to be unnecessary.
As I was doing that, there was a knock on my door.
It was Mom.
“Nanami… may I come in?”
“Yeah, come in.”
Mom, fresh out of the bath, entered the room.
She’s really… beautiful. Or rather… alluring.
Even I, as a woman, think so. She’s my ideal.
I hope I can become a mother like her someday… though, the partner…
No, I shouldn’t think about that right now.
My face would turn red, and I wouldn’t be able to talk properly.
Mom sat down on my bed in her pajamas.
Yeah… she’s definitely alluring after a bath.
I sat beside her—this is our usual style when we talk.
“Isn’t it rare? For you to ask to talk like this?”
She gave me a slightly troubled smile.
I feel like I haven’t seen that expression in a long time…
“Nanami… I’ll ask you directly. Who confessed first? You, or Youshin-kun?”
…That question.
She hadn’t asked it before.
But now…
Even though I had just gotten out of the bath, my body suddenly felt cold.
Why… now?
“...Um… I did…”
I forced the words out.
I can’t lie to Mom.
Even if I try, she always sees through it.
“Oh my… that’s strange. Everything you said you liked about him… happened after you started dating, didn’t it? So why did you confess to him?”
My heart pounded loudly.
I can’t say… it was a punishment game.
Why can’t I say it…?
Because I’m afraid Mom will hate me…?
No…
The person I’m most afraid of being hated by now is…
Before I could finish the thought, something warm wrapped around me.
Soft. Gentle. Comforting.
Mom… was hugging me.
“Nanami… when your father mentioned lies earlier… you weren’t thinking about today’s lie, were you?”
“...H-how do you know…?”
“Because I’m your mother. I can tell… and I can tell you’re hurting. So tell me… what are you hiding? I’ll always be on your side.”
At those words… tears filled my eyes instantly.
All the dark feelings I had kept inside…
Lying to Youshin… deceiving him… trying to make him fall for me while feeling guilty…
Laughing and enjoying time with him as if nothing was wrong…
It all came spilling out.
“Mom… I… I’ve done something awful to Youshin… I… I confessed to him… as a punishment game… I’m the worst…”
“...I see… so that’s why everything you liked about him was from after you started dating…”
“Yeah… yeah… I… I…”
I buried my face in her chest, crying uncontrollably, soaking her pajamas.
But she kept holding me.
Quietly listening… to my sobs and my regrets.
I cried… as I finally acknowledged both my ugliness… and my feelings for Youshin.
“Nanami… you love Youshin-kun now, don’t you?”
“Yeah… I do… I love him… I really love him… I don’t want anyone else…”
For the first time… I said it honestly.
No calculations. No excuses.
Just the truth.
“What do you like about him?”
“He’s kind… even when he’s hurt, he cares about me… and even when I wasn’t dressed like I do at school… he recognized me… and said I was cute…”
“I see… he really is a good boy…”
“He always says the things I need to hear… holds my hand when I’m anxious… hugs me… being with him makes me feel safe… and happy…”
“I see… I see…”
“He’s different from other boys… I don’t feel scared or uncomfortable with him… I need him…”
She hugged me again.
I let everything out… but the tears wouldn’t stop.
Eventually, when my crying settled… she pulled away.
“Alright then… starting tomorrow, let’s work on making you fall even more in love with him!!”
Clapping her hands, she smiled brightly.
I just stared at her in confusion, my face still a mess from crying.
“You’re… not mad?”
“Hmm… I’ll scold you, Hatsumi-chan, and Ayumu-chan later… but since it was for your sake, I won’t be too harsh.”
That actually sounded kind of scary…
“Besides… Nanami, it doesn’t matter how it started. You love him now, and he definitely loves you too. I support both of you.”
“Mom…”
I decided… to stop lying to myself.
I love Youshin.
I want to be with him.
Even if it makes me easy… I don’t care anymore.
“But… you still need to take responsibility.”
Her expression suddenly changed—more mature, almost enchanting.
“One month anniversary… you’ll tell him everything honestly and apologize. After that, leave the decision to him.”
I froze.
I’ve been acting this whole time to prepare for when the truth comes out…
But now…
“Okay… I understand. I’ll tell him everything… and apologize… and then… I’ll confess again. This time, for real.”
“Then until that day… it’ll be a month of devotion to Youshin-kun♪”
“That sounds weird!! Why does it sound so… suggestive?!”
She laughed, back to her usual self.
Devotion… what does that even mean…?!
But still…
“Mom… shouldn’t I apologize sooner…?”
“You’re still scared, aren’t you? Take your time… and fall even more in love with him.”
She really was on my side.
But also… on his.
“They say the one who falls in love loses, right? But if both people fall in love… then both win, and both lose. Just like your father and me.”
…She’s bragging about her love life now.
But…
I found myself imagining a future like theirs…
…and immediately blushing.
“Oh my, were you imagining married life with Youshin-kun? Don’t forget—keep it appropriate for high schoolers♪”
She saw right through me.
I really can’t beat Mom…
“Youshin… starting tomorrow… I’m going all in.”
Only Mom heard my whispered words…
But somehow… I felt like they reached him too.
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